When people with dementia are perceived as witches. Consequences for patients and nurse education in South Africa
When people with dementia are perceived as witches. Consequences for patients and nurse education in South Africa
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DOI：
10.1111/jocn.13909
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发表时间：
2018-01-01
影响因子：
4.2
通讯作者：
Hanssen, Ingrid
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Mkhonto, Flora;Hanssen, Ingrid
Aims and ObjectivesTo explore and describe the link between culture and dementia care with the focus on the influence of the belief in dementia as witchcraft and people with dementia as witches.BackgroundIn South Africa, especially in townships and rural areas, dementia is often perceived as connected to witchcraft rather than to disease. Persons labelled as witchesmostly older womenmay be bullied, ostracised, beaten, stoned, burned, even killed.MethodOne strand of findings from a larger international study is presented with in-depth qualitative interviews of one close family member and seven nurses caring for patients with severe dementia in nursing homes in Tshwane in South Africa. A hermeneutic analytic approach was used.ResultsTwo main themes are found, namely Belief in witchcraft causing fear of persons with dementia and Need of knowledge and education. Fear of and violence towards people with dementia are based on the belief that they are witches. Some of the nurses had also held this belief until they started working with patients with dementia. There is a great need for education both among healthcare workers and the populace.DiscussionThe witch belief prevents seeking professional help. As nursing homes tend to be private and expensive, professional dementia care is virtually unattainable for the poor. Dementia needs a more prominent place in nursing curricula. Nurses as educators need to know the local culture and language to be accepted in the various communities. They need to visit families affected by dementia, give awareness talks in churches, schools and clinics and facilitate support groups for carers of people with dementia in the local language.ConclusionImproved nurses' education in gerontology and geriatric care is needed. Trained specialist nurses may work as mediators and help eradicate the witchcraft beliefs connected to severe dementia.
